First Groningen-Moscow Conference on EU-Russian Energy Law
University of Groningen
Faculty of Law
May 30-31, 2013
EU Policy Towards Energy Development in the
Arctic High North
Kamrul Hossain
Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law
Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
Contents
Why the EU is interested in the Arctic High North?
EU Policy towards High North
Arctic Energy Resources and Environmental Challenges
EU Energy Policy
Governance
Conclusion
Why the EU is interested in the Arctic High
North?
 Interests
 International Trade (shipping and transportation)
 Fishing
 Energy
 Other Economic activities
 Stewardship
 Climate change and Environment
 Arctic Inhabitants/ Indigenous Peoples
EU Arctic Policy Development
 October 2008:
 November 2008:
 December 2009:
 January 2011:
 June 2012:
EU Parliament resolution on Arctic
Governance
EU Commission Communication on the
European Union and the Arctic region
European Council conclusions on Arctic issues
Parliament Resolution sustainable EU Policy in
the High North.
Joint Communication - Developing a European
Union Policy towards the Arctic Region:
progress since 2008 and next steps
EU Policy goal for the Arctic
 Protecting arctic environment in unison with its population
 Promoting sustainable exploitation of Arctic resources and
 Improving Arctic multilateral governance
Action
 Knowledge
 Responsibility
 Engagement
Stewardship: Climate Change and Environment
 Between 2003 and 2008 melting of Arctic glaciers, ice caps and the
Greenlandic ice sheet contributed to 40% global sea level rise.
 EU has incorporated 20% of greenhouse gas reduction commitment
into law.
 Emission reduction commitment of 80-95% by 2050
 Promotion of high standard in international climate regulations.
 Investment in Arctic research on environmental and climate change
agenda
Stewardship: Arctic Inhabitants/ Indigenous Peoples
 Involvement of Arctic population
 Indigenous peoples and protection of their rights
 Sustainable use of natural resources
Arctic
Hydrocarbon
Resources
Arctic
Fields and
Other
Locations
Source: Oilfield Review
Winter 2010/2011, Vol. 22,
No. 4, p. 39; Copyright ©
2011, Schlumberger
The map shows the most promising
areas for finding undiscovered, or yet-tofind (YTF), conventional hydrocarbon
resources. The height of each column
represents the volume of YTF resources
(red for gas and green for oil) in billions
of barrels of oil equivalent. The base of
each column is plotted approximately at
the basin location.
Source: Oilfield Review Winter 2010/2011,
Vol. 22, No. 4, p. 41; Copyright © 2011,
Schlumberger
These graphs present the Arctic YTF resource volume, type and location
compared with the rest of the world. The data indicate that most of these
resources consist of natural gas in Russia.
Source: Oilfield Review Winter 2010/2011, Vol. 22, No. 4, p. 41; Copyright © 2011,
Schlumberger
EU Energy Imports:
With enlarged EU in 2007 energy dependence increased by:
 84 % imported natural gas
 93 % imported oil
Current figures:
 50 % of the total EU energy consumption is imported
 38 % of oil imports come from Russia
 15 % of oil imports come from Norway
 53 % from the European High North
 65–70 % rise is predicted in next 20 years
Arctic Energy Development will have Adverse Environmental
Consequences:
 Acceleration of Climate Change
 Pollution by oil spills
 Difficulties in clean-up operation
 Adverse impact on marine living resources
 Other indirect impacts
 Impact on the livelihood of indigenous peoples
EU Energy Policy
 No integrated energy policy
 A set of policies connecting
 Energy market
 Energy efficiency
 Climate change
 Lisbon Treaty opened the way for a true EU Energy Policy
EU Energy Policy: Sustainability
Climate change
Competition/Efficiency
Supply security
Governance
 Legitimacy
 Promotion of multilateral cooperation
 UN LOS Convention
 Arctic Council Initiatives
EU High North Cooperation
 Circumpolar Cooperation:
Arctic Council
 Regional Cooperation:
Barents Euro-Arctic Council
Northern Dimension Policy
Regulatory Challenges:
 Fragmented regulations with implication of offshore development
 LOS Convention 1982
 OPRC Convention 1991
 London Convention 1972
 MARPOL 73/78 Convention
 Regional and bi-lateral agreements
 Arctic Council Oil Spill Agreement
 Espoo Convention
 OSPAR Convention
 Agreement on Five European Arctic Nations
 Bilateral Agreements
 Lack of centralized regulations
 Soft-law initiatives
Conclusion
Can environmental sustainability be met with existing EU Policy
towards the Arctic?
What future for Arctic energy – is moratorium an option?
If not, what then?
Thank you for your attention!